Art of treating metals



Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE ART OF TREATING METALS No Drawing. Original application filed September 6, 1930, Serial No. 480,179, and in. Canada June 26, 1931. Divided and this application filed December 21, 1931. Serial No. 582,493.

The present invention relates tothe art of treating metals to improve the qualities thereof and more particularly to the art of treating metals with a hydrogen-bearing substance and to a hydrogen-bearing substance useful in the aforesaid treatment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for treating metals to de-oxidiZe and to degasify the same and to improve the qualities thereof by the use of a hydrogen-bearing substance.

his a further object of the invention to provide a hydrogen-bearing substance which can be manufactured satisfactorily and practically on an industrial scale and on an economical basis.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydrogen bearing substance which can be handled like a salt in relatively stable state in dry air, and which has a relatively high melting point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrogen-bearing substance which contains a constituent which improves the crystal structure, hardness, elasticity, fluidity, electrical conductivity and/or other physical and mechanical properties of the metal.

It is also within the contemplationof the invention to provide a substance for the treatment of metals for the improvement thereof which contains hydrogen and lithium or an alloy of lithium.

I have discovered that when a hydrogenbearing substance such as lithium-hydride is added to molten metals and alloys, especially those which have no aflinity for hydrogen, the molten-metallic mass is deoxidized and degasified better by them when conventional degasifying and deoxidizing agents are used and that the physical and mechanical properties of the molten metallic mass are also improved. I have found that'a hydrogenbearing substance such as lithium-hydride can be added to molten metals and alloys conveniently'beca'use the melting point of lithium-hydride, for example, is about 680C. Substances of the lithium-hydride typeperform a dual function in the improvement of molten metals and alloys treated therewith.

The hydrogen in the substancetakes upgases including oxygen and impurities such as sulphur, phosphorus and the like and generally cleanses the metal while the lithium and/or equivalent metal improves the crystal structure of the metal or allow treated, the hardness, elasticity, strength, electrical conductivity and/or fluidity thereof. The lithium and/or equivalent metal also removes practically all of the remaining oxygen and impurities. Metals and alloys when treated in accordance with the foregoing have improved qualities and properties over metals and alloys when treated with conventional scavenging agents.

For a better understanding of the invention, the following description of a specific example is given for purposes of illustrating the use of a hydrogen-bearing substance in the treatment of a metal having no affinity for hydrogen, such as silver and silver alloys. It must be observed, however, that other alloys which have no or only a little affinity for hydrogen such as cadmium, lead, bismuth, antimony, gold, zinc, tin, thallium, rhodium and others and alloys thereof can be treated in the same way. When metals or alloys are treated which have little or no aflinity for hydrogen, practically any amount of hydrogen-bearing material can be added because the molten metal will not combine with hydrogen when hot and will release it just/before the metals or alloys freeze.

The silver or silver alloys to be treated are subjected to the customary processes of treatment in the production of pig silver or the like. Preferably just prior to the casting of the silver or silver alloy into igs or other objects, I add a solid stance such as lithium-hydride to the molten mass of silver or silver alloy and thoroughly mix said hydrogen-bearing substance in the mass. The mixing is continued until a thordistribut on of the hydrogen-bearing substance has been effected. When suflicient time has elapsed for the lithium-hydride to have acted upon the silver or silver alloy, the molten mass is ready to be cast in the form of pigs or other objects. During this treatment, hydrogen is liberated from the hydrogencaring sublithium-hydride and combined with the oxysoli ified copper -mass flowing like molasses,

gen and other gases and also combines with impurities such as sulphur, phosphorus and the like whereas the lithium which is liberated improves the metal or alloy and particularly the physical and mechanical properties of the silver or silver alloy when solidified. These improvements may include a better crystal structure and/or a harder, a more elastic, denser and stronger silver metal or alloy which is substantially free from blisters. In addition, the fluidity of the molten mass is improved and instead of the molten it flows like a makes much better castthin liquid which conductivity is likewise ing. The electrical improved.

In practice, the amount of lithium-hydride or other hydrogen bearing substance used for the treatment of metals or alloys, depends upon the amount of impurities in the treated metals and alloys, the amounts of oxides and oxygen included therein and the percentage of gas to be removed. As one skilled in the art will readily understand, this percentage varies within wide limits depending upon the type of metal and the source of production of said metals and alloys. With silver and silver alloys, up to about 0.1 parts of lithium-hydride is capable of treating about 100 parts of silver. J

Copper or copper alloys can also be treated in accordance with my procedure. In other words,metals and alloys such as copper or copper alloys which have an afiinity for hydrogen can be treated according to the principles of the present invention. When thus treated, the copper or copper alloy is subjected to the customary rocesses of treatment in the production 0 pig copper or the like. It is preferred to add just prior to the casting of the molten copper or copper alloy into pigs or other objects of hi h electrical conductivity, a solid hydrogencaring substance such as a hydrided lithium-calcium alloy to the molten mass of copper or copper alloy and thoroughly mix said hydrogenbearing substance in the mass. The mixing is continued until a thorough distribution of the hydrogen-bearing substance has been effected. When sufiicient time has elapsed for the lithium-calcium hydride to have acted upon the copper or copper alloy, the molten mass is ready to be cast in the form of pigs or other object's' During this treatment, hydrogen is liberated from the lithium-calcium-hydride and comb ned with the oxygen and other gases and also combines with impurities such as sulphur, phosphorus and the like whereas the lithium and calcium which are liberated improve the metal on alloy and the lithium calcium particularly improves the hysical and mechanical properties of the or copper alloy. These improvements may include a better crystal thin liquid which makes much better casting.

In any case, however, the electrical conductivity of copper is improved by the aforesaid treatment. In addit on lithium-calcium removes practically all of the remaining oxygen and impurities. In short, the treated copper or the like appears to be practically completely deoxidized, substantially free from blow holes, black spots and other defects and constituted of the desired sunburst crystal structure.

' In practice, the amount of lithium-calcium hydride or-other hydrogen bearing substance used for the treatment of metals or alloys, depends upon the amount of impurities in the treated metals and alloys, the amount of OK- ides andoxygen included therein and the percentage of gas to be removed. s one skilled in the art will readily understand, this percentage varies within wide limits depending upon the type of metal and the source of production of said metals and alloys. With copper and copper alloys, from about 0.02% up to about 0.4% of lithium-calcium hydride produced from a 50-50 lithium and calcium alloy is capable of treating about 100 parts of copper. It is to be observed that the amount of hydrogen-bearing substance or lithium hydride should be limited in amount so that no free hydrogen is dissolved in the molten mass and then liberated when cooled. In other words, metals and alloys having an affinity for hydrogen combine with the same when hot, it free hydrogen is present after oxygen and impurities are removed, and then release the thus combined hydrogen when cold to cause the formation of blow holes, imperfections, etc. In short, less hydrogen must be added to metals or alloys which have an affinity for hydrogen than an amount. theoretically required to combine with the impurities therein in order to prevent the occurrence of free hydrogen in the metals 'or alloys. The impurities not removed by hydrogen are removed by lithium or an equivalent substance thereof.

The use of lithium-calcium hydride makes it possible to operate under a charcoal cover because lithium and calcium tend to go into the slag. Moreover, calcium staying with the metallic copper has no detrimental effects if traces of calcium remaindissolved in the copper.

When lithium-calcium hydride is used as thehydrogen-bearing substance, then the hydridecan be accompanied by an excess of lithium or calcium or can be accompanied with lithium-silicide. For instance, in making the lithium-calcium hydride an excess of lithium or calcium or both is used so that the finished product contains free lithium or both. In case it is desired to have the lithium-calcium hydride contain or be mixed with lithium silicide, the following procedure can be employed:

A convenient way for making an intimate mixture of lithium-calcium'hydride and a lithium silicide composition is to first produce a composition containing lithium-calcium and silicon with an excess of lithium or calcium or both, such as set forth in my companion application bearing a Serial No. 466,- 584 and a filing date of July 8, 1930, and thereafter hydrogenating the said lithiumcalcium silicon composition containing an excess of lithi n or calcium or both until practically all of the free lithium and/or calcium has combined with hydrogen to form lithium and/or calcium hydride. Another way to make the aforesaid mixture is to make the said lithium-silicon composition containing an excess of lithium or calcium or both in the presence of a hydrogen atmosphere so that the product can be made in one opj eration. Of course, mixtures may also be made by mixing lithium-calcium hydride with a composition of lithium or lithium-calcium silicon.

In the treatment of copper containing arsenic and selenium according to the present method, it has been found that substantially all of the arsenic and selenium are removed in the slag. or in the vapors evolved from the melt. By the present method, therefore, it is possible to produce copper or alloys thereof substantially free from arsenic and selenium.

When lithium-hydride is used as the hydrogen-bearing substance, then the lithiumhydride can be accompanied y an excess of lithium or can be accompanied with lithiumsilicide. For instance, in making the lithiumhydride'an excess of lithium is used so that the finished product contains free lithium.

In other words, lithium and hydrogen are present in lithium hydride in stoichiometric proportions and in addition thereto free lithium is present. In case it is desired to have the lithium-hydride contain or be mixed with lithium silicide, the following procedure can be employed: p

A convenient wa for making an intimate mixture of lithiumydride and a lithium silicide composition is to first produce a composition containing lithium and silicon with an excess of lithium, such as set forth in my companion application bearing a Serial No. 466,584 and a filing date'of July 8, 1930 and thereafter hydrogenating the said lithium silicon composition containing an excess of lithium until practically all of the free lithium has combined with hydrogen to form lithium hydride. Another way to make the aforesaid mixture is to make the lithium-silicon composition containing an excess of lithium in the presence of a hydrogen atmosphere so that the product can be made in one operation. Of course, mixtures may also be made by mixing lithium hydride with a composition of lithium silicon;

The refining of zinc especially electroyltic zinc can be improved by the use of my method and of a hydrogen-bearing substance. At the present time the losses of zinc run to about 2 to 5% in the conventional methods of zinc refining. By the use of my method and refining agent, these losses can be reduced to a minimum. In carrying my process in practice, the pig or metallic zinc is melted under a fused salt cover or in any other appropriate way and then a hydrogenbearing substance such as lithium hydride, is incorporated in the molten metallic mass. The liberated hydrogen reacts with oxygen, sulphate and the like and removes the same from the melt. Lithium up to 0.1%, especially in amount of 0.025%, improves and purifies the metallic zinc. However, higher amounts of lithium, say up to 1%, will improve the thus purified zinc.

In the treatment of cast iron, satisfactory results have been obtained by introducing about 0.005% to about 0.5% of lithium-barium or barium hydride by weight in the melt in a bull ladle. The cast iron thus treated was of a much better grade than ordinary cast iron and possessed better and improved properties.

Nickel and nickel alloys, such as monel, may be treated in accordance with the present invention. For instance, lithium-strontium or strontium hydride can be introduced into a molten mass of monel to the extent of about 0.005% to about 0.1% by weight.

The monel thus treated has a better structure, is clean and free from segregations and has improved properties.

A carbon steel was treated by adding about 0.005% to about 0.2% of cerium hydride or lithium-cerium hydride by weight. The treated steel pours better and forms better ingots than untreated steel and has improved properties.

An alloy steel, such as nickel-chromium steel, may be improved by treating it in the molten state with lanthanum hydride and lithium-lanthanum hydride. The hydride can be added to an extent of 0.005% to 0.2% by weight. In general, the present treatment produces an increase in temperature of the molten metal, a better fluidity of the molten bath, better castings, improved crystal structure, cleaner metal and superior metal with respect to physical and mechanical properties and an improved corrosion resistance.

In the foregoing examples, lithium hydrogen has been specified as a typical hydrogenbearing substance but it is to be understood that other hydrogen-hearing substances can also be used. For instance, alloys of lithium a diluent.

such as calcium, barium, strontium, magnesium, potassium, cerium, sodium, thorium, or the like or mixtures thereof, can be hydrided and used as described hereinabove. Then again hydrides of sodium or of calcium or of other members of the alkali group or alkali earth group can be employed. Besides the alkali earths, members of the rare earth group can be used. This latter procedure is especially beneficial when it is desired to introduce a member of the rare earth group into the metallic mass. When the expression alkali earth group is used in the claims, therefore, it is intended to include the rare earth group.

In practice in many cases, it is desirable to dilute the lithium hydride or the like with It is preferred to use the metal under treatment as the diluent. For instance, if copper is to be treated, then a lithium-copper hydride or a lithium-calciumcopper hydride may be employed. In this manner, a more uniform and quiet action may be obtained and a prevention of violent reactions may be effected.

It .will be observed that my invention provides a convenient process of treating metals and alloys with hydrogen-bearing substances such as lithium-hydride so that the hydrogen combines with oxygen and impurities such as sulphur and phosphorous and takes'up gases and thus permits the lithium to assert its beneficial action upon the metals and alloys without being inefiiciently consumed with oxygen, sulphur, phosphorous and the like In this manner, a less costly method and substance is made available to the art for the treatment of metals and alloys to improve the qualities and properties thereof. In addition, the presence and function of hydrogen saves the consumption of expensive lithium,

" etc.

It will also be noted that when lithium hydride is used fortreating metals and alloys.

the consumption is about to less than when lithium is used by itself.

It will be observed that the present invention provides a process which can be utilized on an industrial scale to produce successful and satisfactory results which are acceptable to-those skilled in the art and the trade.

It will be furtherobserved that the present invention provides a process for the production of articles of manufacture comprising improved metals and alloys which not only can be carried out on a laboratory scale but which also can be carried out on an industrial sea. 0.

It will also ,be noted that the present invention utilizes hydrides of a metal of the alkali group or the alkaline earth'groupor the rare earth group and which hydrides have a salt-like character. In the molten state the h dro en of the hydride acts as an anion just ike 51c chloride in molten sodiumv one skilled in the art will understand, but it p is preferred to use the electrolytic method described in the co-pending application U. S. Serial No. 466,588, filed July 8, 1930.

The present application is a division of my application, Serial No. 480,17 9, filed on September 6, 1930.

What is claimed is:

1. An improving, purifying and scavenging agent for metallic substances in molten condition which comprises a mixture of saltlike hydrides of alkali metals having a relatively high melting point and being capable of liberating hydrogen at relatively high temperatures whereby the molten metallic substance combines with oxygen and other gases and impurities present in said metallic substance.

2. An improving, purifying and scavenging agent for metallic substances in molten condition which comprises a salt-like hydride of an alkali metal and lithium hydride and having av relatively high melting point and being capable of liberating hydrogen at relatively high temperatures whereby the molten'metallic substance combines with oxygen and other gases and impurities present in said metallic substance.

3. An improving, purifying and scavenging agent for metallic substances in molten condition which comprises a salt-like hydride of an alkali metal containing in addition lithium hydride and free alkali metal and having a relatively high melting point and being capable of liberating hydrogen at relatively high temperatures whereby the molten metallic substance combines with oxygen and other gases present in said metallic substance.

4.. An improving, purifying and scavenging agent for metallic substances in molten condition which comprises a solid substance containing lithium hydride, calcium hydride and free lithium.

5. Animproving, purifying and scavenging agent for metallic substances in molten condition which comprises a solid substance containing lithium-calcium hydride.

In testimonyiwhe'reof I have hereunto set my hand.

HANS OSBORG. 

